Captain America gets a title change in South Korea, Russia and the Ukraine

January 23, 2011 - By Liam Goodwin

According to The L.A Times “market research results” have caused Paramount to drop the ‘Captain America’ from Captain America: The First Avenger in South Korea, Russia and the Ukraine. Marvel initially thought that a title change to simply The First Avenger would be required in various countries, but have had a ”pleasant surprise” that it is only required for these three.

Ever since the Captain America movie was announced there has been curiosity as to how it would fare internationally. The overseas box office is becoming more and more important, which is why Marvel decided early on not to make the title character, as described by Joe Johnston, a “jingoistic American flag-waver”. The director said at Comic-Con last year that the movie has “an international cast and an international story. It’s about what makes America great and what make the rest of the world great too.”

Captain America: The First Avenger will be released July 22nd and stars Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, Hugo Weaving as Red Skull, Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter, Sebastian Stan as Bucky, Samuel L. Jackson as Nicky Fury and Tommy Lee Jones as General Chester Phillips.

What do you think about Paramount and Marvel changing the title in some countries? Is it a smart move?

Next they’ll be filming with a green shield and superimposing the flag of the country where it’s being shown! It’s just nonsense, and I say that as an Irish person – not an American.

The dude is called Captain America. Why should you be ashamed of that? And changing the name isn’t going to trick anybody who wouldn’t see it otherwise – the poster is the character carrying a shield modelled after the US flag. Of course some people are going to opt not to see it based on racism (and, yes, deciding not to see a film because of the nationality of the lead is racism), but the change won’t win them over – it just panders to them and grants legitimacy.

For example, can you imagine renaming a Wonder Woman film to “Wonder” because female superhero films statistically don’t make as much money as male ones? Why is it okay if it’s America?

David Blum

They didn’t do this because of “political correctness”. They did it because of money. I live in Korea. They would not go to a movie called “Captain America”.

Yvette

it’s an asinine move on their part- why release Captain America at all if they don’t want to promote the character’s origin, ethos and flag?? do another character – it defies logic as to why paramount thought this decision would be well-received- i won’t go see it unless they reverse this idiotic decision